Help My 3-Year-Old Daughter, Varsha Fight Cancer

I am Somshekar. I live with my wife, parents and 2 kids in Nandini Layout, Bangalore. My 3 year old daughter, Varsha was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma (an aggressive type of cancer) 3 months ago. She is getting treated at HCG hospital.

It was the month of March. Varsha has week long fever, we thought it was the weather change. Like any other day, we had just finished lunch. The kids were being their usual self, running around, playing ball. Suddenly, Varsha screamed. I can’t explain why I got a sinking feeling in my chest; ‘this isn’t normal’, I told myself. I had never heard her scream like that before.

A ball had hit Varsha’s eye. We iced her eye immediately. But soon her eye got swollen. The following week, Varsha complained of severe back pain and refused to walk. She had to be carried around. Soon the local doctor referred us to HCG for more tests. I knew Varsha needed a bigger hospital for the tests. But I had no idea HCG was a hospital for cancer. How can a ball injury cause so many problems? Soon the tests revealed that Varsha had Neuroblastoma, an aggressive type of cancer.

How can you help?

Today, Varsha needs 8 chemo cycles, radiation, a surgery in the near future all costing around 22 lakhs. The family has medical insurance through Employee’s State Insurance that will cover for the treatment worth 10 lakhs only. Though this comes as a huge relief for the family, Somashekar is still clueless how he will arrange for the remaining 12 lakhs.

Somashekar lost his leg in an accident 10 years ago. A florist by profession then, he was on the way delivering an early morning order when it costed him his leg; leaving him jobless since then. He has been doing odd jobs but none fetched him over Rs. 200 a day.His wife works in a garment factory in Peenya. Today the family of 6 survives on a single salary of Rs. 7000 a month. There is no way they can arrange for 12 lakhs. It is not easy for a parent to see his child fight complications this grave. Your support will save his 3 year old daughter. Please contribute now and help Somashekar

Supporting Documents

(Somashekar can speak only Kannada. The campaign was set up on his behalf per the phone conversation)

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9th October 2016

Dear Supporters,

Varsha's doctor, Dr. Rasmi shared the below note with us over an email with an update on Varsha's health.

"Just wanted to give the donors an update on Varsha. As you would know, she has high risk, stage 4 neuroblastoma. She has completed all 8 cycles of chemotherapy and has underwent surgery in her abdomen to remove the tumor situated in her left adrenal gland. She had a PET CT scan done after chemotherapy that showed that she has had an excellent response with all of her disease metastasis having disappeared and her abdominal mass shrunk significantly. Of course, we anticipated this since Varsha came to us paralyzed down her waist and was able to walk just after one cycle of chemotherapy. Now she rides a tricycle!

But the best part was that when the pathologist looked at the resected tumor under the microscope, it was all dead tissue and there was no viable tumor. This gives us more hope that once she finishes the bone marrow transplant and radiation followed by maintenance treatment for six months, there is a very good chance that she will attain permanent cure.

Sharing this picture of Varsha I took a few days after her surgery. Look how bright she is! She is such a stoic child that she inspires all of us to keep doing what we do!

This would not have been possible without the generous donations from you all. We want to thank each and everyone of you for all your support and your prayers."

Sincerely,Rasmi

Dear Supporters,

Varsha's doctor, Dr. Rasmi shared the below note with us over an email with an update on Varsha's health.

"Just wanted to give the donors an update on Varsha. As you would know, she has high risk, stage 4 neuroblastoma. She has completed all 8 cycles of chemotherapy and has underwent surgery in her abdomen to remove the tumor situated in her left adrenal gland. She had a PET CT scan done after chemotherapy that showed that she has had an excellent response with all of her disease metastasis having disappeared and her abdominal mass shrunk significantly. Of course, we anticipated this since Varsha came to us paralyzed down her waist and was able to walk just after one cycle of chemotherapy. Now she rides a tricycle!

But the best part was that when the pathologist looked at the resected tumor under the microscope, it was all dead tissue and there was no viable tumor. This gives us more hope that once she finishes the bone marrow transplant and radiation followed by maintenance treatment for six months, there is a very good chance that she will attain permanent cure.

Sharing this picture of Varsha I took a few days after her surgery. Look how bright she is! She is such a stoic child that she inspires all of us to keep doing what we do!

This would not have been possible without the generous donations from you all. We want to thank each and everyone of you for all your support and your prayers."

Sincerely,Rasmi

29th September 2016

Dear Supporters,

Somshekar informed us today that Varsha underwent the stem collection surgery on Tuesday. We have transferred the funds and have settled the bills till date. Somshekar is positive she will be discharged by Sunday. He also had this message to share with you.

"If has been only because of each one of you, my Varsha never missed a chemo session or even a tablet. Every bill has been taken care off and settled in time. We could consent this surgery without any hesitation only because of your contributions. I will be forever grateful to you all for the saving my daughter's life."

We are yet to talk to Dr. Rasmi for a detailed update on Varsha's progress but she has assured us she will share a note in couple of days.

Warmly, Team Milaap

Dear Supporters,

Somshekar informed us today that Varsha underwent the stem collection surgery on Tuesday. We have transferred the funds and have settled the bills till date. Somshekar is positive she will be discharged by Sunday. He also had this message to share with you.

"If has been only because of each one of you, my Varsha never missed a chemo session or even a tablet. Every bill has been taken care off and settled in time. We could consent this surgery without any hesitation only because of your contributions. I will be forever grateful to you all for the saving my daughter's life."

We are yet to talk to Dr. Rasmi for a detailed update on Varsha's progress but she has assured us she will share a note in couple of days.

Warmly, Team Milaap

23rd August 2016

Dear Supporters,

Thanks to all of your contributions. Varsha’s treatment is now in full swing.

I am Sudhakar, a Milaap Open Fellow in Bengaluru. I met with Varsha and her grandmother at HCG Cancer Hospital at MS Ramaiah’s campus on the afternoon of 9th August.

The seventh session of the eight chemotherapy sessions planned ended on 2nd Aug. But, she developed a fever after this session once she got discharged on 2nd August. She was admitted to the hospital on the night of 4th August, Thursday. Her fever has now reduced and she will get discharged by Wednesday. The eighth and final chemotherapy session which was planned on 9th August has been postponed to 12th Aug, Friday.

Varsha was sleeping when I visited her. Her grandmother said, “Varsha was undergoing the chemotherapy session without any complication every 10 days. But, this was the first time she had fever. She wants to go home as soon as possible.” Further course of treatment viz. Bone marrow transplant will be planned after a PET Scan and Bone marrow test once the last session gets over by the weekend. We will keep you posted about the further progress. Keep Varsha in your prayers.

Dear Supporters,

Thanks to all of your contributions. Varsha’s treatment is now in full swing.

I am Sudhakar, a Milaap Open Fellow in Bengaluru. I met with Varsha and her grandmother at HCG Cancer Hospital at MS Ramaiah’s campus on the afternoon of 9th August.

The seventh session of the eight chemotherapy sessions planned ended on 2nd Aug. But, she developed a fever after this session once she got discharged on 2nd August. She was admitted to the hospital on the night of 4th August, Thursday. Her fever has now reduced and she will get discharged by Wednesday. The eighth and final chemotherapy session which was planned on 9th August has been postponed to 12th Aug, Friday.

Varsha was sleeping when I visited her. Her grandmother said, “Varsha was undergoing the chemotherapy session without any complication every 10 days. But, this was the first time she had fever. She wants to go home as soon as possible.” Further course of treatment viz. Bone marrow transplant will be planned after a PET Scan and Bone marrow test once the last session gets over by the weekend. We will keep you posted about the further progress. Keep Varsha in your prayers.